License #5683

She/Her

The basics about me are first that I’m a psychologist with a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Calgary. My love of working with kids and teens comes from working as a school teacher and as a school counsellor and I have loved my experiences working with adults as a vocational rehabilitation counsellor. It’s been so inspiring to me to be welcomed into the world of others to share in the journeys of people from all walks of life.

When it comes to finding solutions for the challenges that life brings, I firmly believe that we’re stronger together. Asking for help gives us the opportunity to learn from one another and shed light on the strengths that we forgot we had inside. It can be one of the scariest things to open up, but I believe that when we create space to be honest, non-judgmental and compassionate with ourselves, we can see new possibilities and venture towards them with a renewed sense of mastery and courage.

I believe in the saying that comes from Narrative Therapy which states that “the problem is the problem, the person is not the problem”. This implies doing away with the blame, shame and stigma that come with life challenges and mental health struggles, instead working together to overcome the problem. When it comes to my therapeutic approach, I’ll often draw on Narrative practices or Solution-Focused questions to help map out strategies for moving forward and determining our goals together.

There are times when we’ll use Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) to help get through presenting concerns such as anxiety or depression. We might decide on therapeutic tasks that involve some creative expression or mindfulness practices.

When working with children, youth and families, I’ve learned to engage clients at their developmental level, helping young people to overcome life’s tough problems in a playful, empathetic and hopeful way.

With kids, I believe that parents and caregivers are important teachers and team-members when it comes to making changes that last. When appropriate, I will collaborate with parents and create opportunities to educate them on the skills and attitudes that can help create changes outside of therapy.

A bit about me:

• I love all kinds of outdoor activities: hiking, cross-country skiing, running and camping.
• My favourite weekend activities include cooking, reading, cuddling with my cat and spending time with my family and friends.